Early voting may be sign of light turnout to come

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – If the number of people who turned out for early voting is any indication of how the Aug. 7 election will go, overall turnout is unlikely to top 25 percent of voters registered in Montgomery County.

Despite a record-setting first day of early voting on July 18, only 11,845 people had voted early at the elections office or by absentee ballot by the end of Aug. 2, when early voting ended.

Traditionally, half or more of those who vote in August elections vote early, said Montgomery County Administrator of Elections Vickie Koelman.

Montgomery County currently has 99,405 registered voters. So, if the same number of people vote Thursday as did in the 17 days of early voting, that will be 23,690 total – or 22.8 percent.

Such low voter turnout wouldn't really surprise Koelman.

August elections generally have lower turnout than November elections, even in years when there are so many county races in contention.

Races in contention

This year's election includes county mayor, every county commission seat, sheriff, county clerk, circuit court clerk, register of deeds, juvenile court judge, general sessions judges, trustee, assessor of property, district public defender, district attorney general, chancellor and circuit court judges. School board districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 are also on the ballot, along with whether to retain Tennessee Supreme Court judges, Court of Appeals judges and Criminal Appeals judges.

Those wishing to participate in state primaries can also declare if they wish to vote in the Democratic or Republican primaries, and then vote for that party's nominees for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, state House of Representatives, state Executive Committeeman and Executive Committeewoman. They can vote in either primary, but not both, and are not required to vote in either.

In early voting, those choosing to cast ballots in the Republican primary far outnumbered those voting in the Democratic primary. By the end of early voting, 7,306 Republican ballots were cast, compared to 4,072 Democratic ballots. Forty-nine people voted only in the general county election.

Compared with previous elections

Koelman said that in August elections more voters are likely to vote early than to vote at the 29 precincts on election day.

In the August 2006 election, which is most like this election in recent years because of the sheer number number of races, including eight-year judgeships, 10,342 people voted early and 7,984 voted on election day. The population was smaller, and the total voter turnout was 25.28 percent.

In August of 2008, early and absentee voters cast 5,238 ballots early, compared to 4,486 on election day, and voter turnout was only 11.86 percent.

In August of 2010, which had many of the same offices up for election as this year (but not the judge races), voters cast 10,109 ballots early or absentee and only 7,288 on election day for a total turnout of 19.04 percent. At that time, the number of registered voters was 91,391.

Koelman said the number of people who vote early usually accounts for 48 to 52 percent of all votes cast, but in August elections it's usually over 50 percent.

"We are having more vote early in recent years," Koelman said. "That's not necessarily the case for November races."

November races tend to have more state-wide races and also include presidential races every four years.

Election Day

Koelman said polls at the 29 precincts will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and anyone standing in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

All voters must bring a photo ID issued by Tennessee or the federal government.

Precincts are listed on each voter's registration card. Those who can't locate their card and need help finding their precinct can call the elections office at 648-5707. Anyone who needs to change their address within the county and want to vote on Election Day should visit the elections office in Veterans Plaza at 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 404.

Sample ballots are available on the election commission's website, along with a map of polling locations and other election information at www.mcgtn.org/election.